1. Alloy composition

It is well recognized that the properties of aluminium alloys are essentially determined by the microstructure of the corresponding products. Although not all the interactions between microstructure and properties are yet fully understood, the results of the extensive research carried out in recent years have considerably improved our knowledge in this respect, so that today we can consider that engineers have sufficient elements at their disposal to obtain the optimum microstructure required for a given application.

The microstructure is essentially conditioned by the nature, quantity and, above all, distribution of the additive elements. Most metallic elements can be alloyed with aluminum, but only a limited number of elements are used as main additions, and this determines the alloy's key properties.

These elements are copper, magnesium,...